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It's easy to forget the history of Prague when you look around at all the Starbucks, KFC, and Hard Rock Cafe outlets, but this subtle, easy-to-miss memorial to Jan Palach, who set himself on fire here in 1969 is an opportunity to remember. It was covered with flowers and candles when I went to see it, and it's right by the main road, so any reflection is accompanied by the sound of heavy traffic. Does that make it more or less poignant? It depends how philosophical you are, perhaps.

Ask MadameGateaux about The Jan Palach Memorial

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It was back in 1969,when the name Jan Palach was synonym for bravery and protest against Russian occupation of Czechoslovakia. Jan Zajíc did the same act little bit later. We will not forget you, boys!!!

Ask TomasF16 about The Jan Palach Memorial

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You can find the square in the Old Town on the right bank of the river not far from the Jewish Quarter. The West side of the square is adjacent to the river and affords a great view of the Charles Bridge and Prague Castle. The square is connected to the Lesser Town by the Mάnes Bridge. Jan Palach Square is a ‘new’ square when compared to other squares in Prague. In 1945 it was named the Square of the Red Army in commemoration of the Russian soldiers who died liberating Prague. Between 1969 and 1970 it was rather tentatively renamed Jan Palach Square after the young student committed suicide by self-immolation as a protest of the Soviet occupation of his country. The name was officially adopted at the end of 1989 after the communist regime came to an end.

Ask Jun J about The Jan Palach Memorial

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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC